On the Road

On October 10, State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster awarded recognition plaques and $1,000 monetary awards to 149 New Wisconsin Promise Schools of Recognition at a ceremony at the State Capitol.

"These award-winning schools are vibrant communities that embrace the belief that every child can learn," Burmaster said. "Educators, school board members, and civic, business and industry leaders all across the state can look to these schools as models for student engagement that ensures academic achievement and helps our efforts to close the achievement gap." A news release announcing the schools receiving the award is available. See a photo gallery of the event.

On October 11, Burmaster welcomed 30 new Wallace Fellows to an Urban Schools Leadership Meeting in Madison. The Wallace Fellows are participants in the Wisconsin Urban Leadership Schools Project, which is funded by a three year grant from the Wallace Foundation to develop exceptional leadership for urban schools (see separate story in this issue).

Later that day, Burmaster attended a meeting of the PK-16 Leadership Council in Madison (see separate story in this issue).

The state superintendent spoke to about 150 educators and business representatives from Southwestern Wisconsin at the Business and Education Summit in Mineral Point on October 12. The summit was sponsored by the CESA 3 School-to-Work and Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) Consortiums; Southwest Wisconsin Technical College; and local business and industry partners.

“Thank you for the tremendous commitment you demonstrate by joining together for business and education in Southwest Wisconsin,” said Burmaster. “Our shared value of a quality education for every child has defined the excellence of our great state in the past, and will most certainly define the future of our state for years to come. With this collaboration come new dynamic partnerships and innovative opportunities that advance educational learning experiences, strengthen the states’ economy, and diversify our workforce.”

On October 16, Burmaster was in Washington, D.C. for a press conference at the U.S. Capitol to announce the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) Reauthorization Policy Statement for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Burmaster chaired the ESEA Reauthorization Task Force, which developed the council’s policy statement. The ESEA, first enacted in 1965, embodies the federal laws that govern elementary and secondary education. The law is up for Congressional reauthorization in 2007.

The CCSSO is a nationwide, nonprofit organization of public officials who head departments of elementary and secondary education in the states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and five U.S. extra-state jurisdictions. Burmaster is president-elect of CCSSO, and will begin her term in November.

Last updated on 10/16/2006